Friday, January 19th, 2018
Five years ago, Alan and Cindy Gensamer moved to the New River Valley from Houston, Texas. It fit their criteria for a place to retire: close to colleges and universities, airports, museums and cultural venues, plus a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities. And the climate – not too cold, not too hot. They brought
Thursday, January 18th, 2018
A billowy 40 degrees, the mountains a crisp blue in Blacksburg, the eve of the year 2017. People are prepping to celebrate the ringing in of a New Year. Party hats, black dresses, drinks for toasting and...
Tuesday, November 7th, 2017
1 large orange 6 whole cloves 6 whole black peppercorns 1 bottle (3 cups) fruity red wine 2 cardamom pods 6 allspice berries 1 cinnamon stick (+ 4 for garnish) 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup fresh cranberries...
Tuesday, November 7th, 2017
In a home in the hills outside Blacksburg, Christmas decorations are tastefully displayed, traditions have been handed down and created anew, and the holiday spirit fills every space. This classy, contemporary family house blends rustic elements with...
Tuesday, November 7th, 2017
Hiding the surprise is a big part of gift giving and has been for years – even centuries. The use of wrapping paper is first documented in ancient China, where paper was invented in second century B.C....
Tuesday, November 7th, 2017
So imagine as a college student at the Pennsylvania Academy of Art, you drop into a bar for a beer one afternoon after painting away part of the day with friends at Brandywine Battlefield. It’s not a...
Tuesday, November 7th, 2017
From sweeping the floor and cleaning the sink to learning the muscles in the upper body and a sprinkle of chemistry and mastering people skills, the cosmetologist’s job is comprehensive in science, style and sanitation before picking...
Tuesday, November 7th, 2017
While the Corner Market Country Store looks like your typical gas-and-go food mart, a closer look reveals a locavore’s dream. Colorful fresh produce is abundant, along with gourmet items such as Amish butter and eggs and local...
Friday, September 15th, 2017
The year was 1892. The place was a stony bean field (or was it wheat?) at Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, a swath of land that would become the Drillfield. The people were Techmen, outfitted in the...
Friday, September 15th, 2017
Pearl is the item associated with a 30th anniversary, and that is exactly what the Interfaith Food Pantry is to Blacksburg with its three decades of quiet service. “For 30 years the Pantry has been fortunate to...